Chebulagic acid is a

benzopyran Benzopyran is a polycyclic organic compound that results from the fusion of a benzene ring to a heterocyclic pyran ring. According to current IUPAC nomenclature, the name chromene used in previous recommendations is retained; however, systemati ...

tannin and an

antioxidant Antioxidants are compounds that inhibit oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals. This can lead to polymerization and other chain reactions. They are frequently added to industrial products, such as fuels and lubricant ...

that has many potential uses in medicine. It has been found to be

immunosuppressive Immunosuppression is a reduction of the activation or efficacy of the immune system. Some portions of the immune system itself have immunosuppressive effects on other parts of the immune system, and immunosuppression may occur as an adverse reacti ...

hepatoprotective Hepatoprotection or antihepatotoxicity is the ability of a chemical substance to prevent damage to the liver. This is opposite to hepatotoxicity. Hepatoprotective molecules used in emergency medicine * Acetylcysteine is considered the hepatopro ...

, and a potent

alpha-glucosidase α-Glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20, maltase, glucoinvertase, glucosidosucrase, maltase-glucoamylase, α-glucopyranosidase, glucosidoinvertase, α-D-glucosidase, α-glucoside hydrolase, α-1,4-glucosidase, α-D-glucoside glucohydrolase; systematic na ...

inhibitor, a human gut enzyme useful in diabetic studies. It has been shown to be active against ''

Staphylococcus aureus ''Staphylococcus aureus'' is a Gram-positive spherically shaped bacterium, a member of the Bacillota, and is a usual member of the microbiota of the body, frequently found in the upper respiratory tract and on the skin. It is often positive ...

'' and ''

Candida albicans ''Candida albicans'' is an opportunistic pathogenic yeast that is a common member of the human gut flora. It can also survive outside the human body. It is detected in the gastrointestinal tract and mouth in 40–60% of healthy adults. It is us ...

''. It is found in the plants ''

Terminalia chebula ''Terminalia chebula'', commonly known as black- or chebulic myrobalan, is a species of ''Terminalia'', native to South Asia from India and Nepal east to southwest China (Yunnan), and south to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Vietnam.Flora of China''Term ...

'', '' T. citrina'' and '' T. catappa''. It is formed from

geraniin Geraniin is a dehydroellagitannin found in geraniums. It is found for instance in ''Geranium thunbergii'', which is one of the most popular folk medicines and also an official antidiarrheic drug in Japan. It can also be found in the rind of ''Neph ...

through a

glutathione Glutathione (GSH, ) is an antioxidant in plants, animals, fungi, and some bacteria and archaea. Glutathione is capable of preventing damage to important cellular components caused by sources such as reactive oxygen species, free radicals, pero ...

-mediated conversion.Glutathione-mediated conversion of the ellagitannin geraniin into chebulagic acid. Tanaka T, Kouno I and Nonaka G.I, Chemical and pharmaceutical bulletin, 1996, volume 44, no 1, pages 34-40,

References

Phenol antioxidants Ellagitannins {{Aromatic-stub